Varietal characteristics and features of cultivation of the Kupchikha earthworm

The origin of the landowner Kupchikha

Experiments on crossing garden strawberries and wild strawberries have been carried out by breeders for a long time, but it was not until the 1980s that their efforts were crowned with success. On the basis of the Bryansk Agrarian University, a hybrid with a unique dessert taste was obtained, which was named the earthworm. To create it, two parental lines were crossed - large-fruited garden strawberry with European nutmeg strawberry.

The culture was introduced into the State Register of the Russian Federation only in 2017 after many years of varietal tests. This is the first, and today it is the only officially registered variety of Zemluniki, recommended for cultivation in all regions of the country.

Video "Review of the variety of Zemkluniki Kupchikha"

From this video you will learn what is interesting about the Merchant's landowner, and how to grow it.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Consider the varietal characteristics of the hybrid, as well as the description of the bushes and berries.

Plant features

The bush is strong and dense, but at the same time compact. The shape is spherical, the height is about 30 cm. The mustache is short, reddish in color, moderately formed. The leaves are rounded, slightly concave, serrated at the edges, smooth and shiny on the surface, pubescent below and on the petioles. There are a lot of peduncles - up to 35 pcs. on the bush. During flowering, greenery is not visible under the cascade of snow-white flowers. For this feature, the variety was named Merchant's wife.

Ripening time and yield

The hybrid has a medium-early ripening period. In the middle lane, the crop is harvested in early July, in the south - at the end of June. In general, fruiting begins a week later than the early varieties of garden strawberries.

The yield indicator of the variety is determined at the level of 12-13 t / ha. But gardeners' reviews indicate that even the slightest improvement in agricultural technology leads to an increase in yield. From a young bush in a season, it is possible to collect up to 300 g of berries, from an adult - up to 500 g. There are no bad years, since the pollination of the bushes is 98-100%.

Commercial and taste qualities of berries

Merchant's berries are elongated, flattened on both sides, of a bizarre shape, with bifurcations and various processes at the ends. The skin color is dark red. The size varies: the largest berries are the first ones, they reach a weight of 17–20 g with a length of 5–6 cm, the last ones are small, on average 3–4 g. Dessert taste and strawberry aroma with a nutmeg tint is a visiting card of the variety. For them, the strawberry was awarded the highest tasting mark - 5 points.

Harvesting, storage, transportability and application

The berries ripen unevenly, so the harvesting season lasts 5-7 weeks. Collect in several doses every 1-2 days. Due to the dense skin and dry separation, the berry does not flow, is well transported and stored for a long time. Even in room conditions, it can lie for 3-4 days, in the refrigerator - up to 7 days. The purpose of strawberries is universal. It is good fresh, as part of desserts, as a filling for baking. It is frozen, dried, used for blanks, as well as in winemaking.

The advantages and disadvantages of culture

Agrotechnical recommendations

In one place the merchant's wife can bear fruit for 5-6 years. For strawberries, this is a long time, so you need to properly plant the garden and provide it with proper care.

Determination of landing dates

Traditionally, planting of mustache seedlings is carried out from late July to early September. You can root the sockets at any time as they form, but it is better to plant them in a permanent place at the end of summer. It is recommended to plant seedlings with a closed root system in spring or in the second half of summer. Frigo seedlings are planted in greenhouses in February.

Choosing a place, soil and planting material

It is customary to allocate sunny areas for strawberries, but it is acceptable for the Merchant to grow in a small partial shade. The main thing is that this place is well ventilated. Before planting, the soil should be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate, fertilized with humus 1-2 buckets plus 2 glasses of ash / m².

The culture is propagated vegetatively - by rosettes and by dividing the bush. The seeds are not used as it is a hybrid form. Select healthy seedlings with intact roots. Before planting, they are soaked in water with the addition of Kornevin (1 ml / 5 l of water). Seedlings with closed roots are transplanted using the transshipment method, without disturbing the roots.

Landing scheme and rules

On production areas, it is recommended to plant a merchant according to a 50x50 cm scheme with rows placed at a distance of 0.7-1 m. Gardeners can plant bushes using a two-row method, using a 40x40 scheme.

When landing, you should adhere to the following rules:

• cover the roots so that all the petioles with leaves and the heart remain on the surface;
• water with a special groove around the bush so that water does not get on the heart;
• the ground around the seedlings should be covered with mulch.

Watering and feeding

You need to water the garden regularly, spending 1-2 liters of water per bush, so that the ground is always slightly damp. Before pouring the berries, you can water over the leaves, then under the root, so as not to provoke an outbreak of rot. In autumn, if there is no rainfall, it is recommended to irrigate before winter at the rate of 2-3 liters of water / bush.

The feeding scheme is standard: in the spring - a nitrogen-mineral complex, during flowering - herbal infusion, boric acid solution and a little ash. Flower buds are laid in August. During this period, the bushes need to be treated with urea (50 g / 10 l). Before wintering, the beds are mulched with organic matter.

At the flowering stage, do not forget to remove some of the peduncles, leaving 10-15 of the strongest ones.

Shelter for the winter

The winter hardiness of the Merchant is quite high - up to -24 ° C, so it is advisable to cover it only in those regions where the winter temperature reaches this mark. However, gardeners do not want to take risks and cover the garden before the snow falls. For shelter, use organic mulch with a layer of 15–20 cm or dense agrofibre that allows air to pass through.

Common diseases and pests

The variety is not susceptible to fungal diseases, but spring treatment of the beds with "Fitosporin" or any copper-containing fungicide will be useful for prevention. The most common pests of earthworms are strawberry mites and raspberry weevils. Treatment of bushes with "Aktara" or "Inta-Vir" before flowering helps to prevent their appearance. The soil in the aisles must be loosened regularly, destroying insect habitats.

Reviews of gardeners about the Merchant hybrid

Everyone who has already met the Merchant's wife recommends her as the best variety for home cultivation. When planted in fertile soil, this dredger will delight the whole family with a truly merchant harvest for 4–5 years, fully justifying its name.